Contact detection system and method

• US 6,878,870 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond Daniel Wilson Aldridge
• Original Assignee: Raymond Daniel Wilson Aldridge
• Inventors: Aldridge, Raymond Daniel Wilson
• Primary Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/746,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 84723-746
• US Class Current: 84/733
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/32 with indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/145 Boxing gloves

Abstract

A system electronically detects and registers contact, especially in contact sport embodiments. An example contacting instrument includes a switch, a tone generator and a conductive mesh. An example detecting instrument includes a conductive mesh and a tone decoder. In a contact sport embodiment, each combatant possesses, for example, as part of the combatant'"'"'s respective uniform, one or more contacting instruments and one or more detecting instruments embedded in prescribed contact zones. The basic goal of a combatant is to strike a contact zone of their opponent with one of their contacting instruments. The detecting instrument will recognize the tone, thereby recognizing a hit.

Claims

1. A contact-detecting instrument, comprising:

a substrate;

a first conductive mesh coupled to the substrate for receiving at least one tone via capacitive coupling with a conductive mesh of a contacting instrument; and

a first tone decoder coupled to the conductive mesh for determining whether the at least one tone is member to a first predetermined set of at least one tone.

2. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, wherein the contact-detecting instrument includes a body covering or a mat.

3. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes padding.

4. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes foam.

5. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, wherein the conductive mesh acts as one plate of a capacitor.

6. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second tone decoder coupled to the conductive mesh for determining whether the at least one tone is member to a second predetermined set of at least one tone.

7. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined set is different than the first predetermined set.

8. The contact-detecting instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second conductive mesh coupled to the substrate and to the tone decoder.